To read this content please select one of the options below:

Developing a tool for environmentally preferable purchasing

Mary Ann Curran (US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA)

Environmental Management and Health

ISSN: 0956-6163

Article publication date: 1 August 2001

852

Abstract

LCA‐based guidance was developed by EPA under the Framework for Responsible Environmental Decision‐making (FRED) effort to demonstrate how to conduct a relative comparison between product types to determine environmental preferability. It identifies data collection needs and issues, and describes how to calculate numeric impact indicators for a given product or service across eight human health and environmental impact categories that were selected specifically to meet the goal of the effort: global climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, acidification, photochemical smog formation, eutrophication, human health, ecological health, and resource depletion. Case studies were conducted on motor oil, wall insulation, and asphalt coating. It was concluded that the FRED LCA approach can be performed in a much shorter time period than is typical for a more detailed LCA. This more practical duration for procurement decisions is achieved though the focusing of data collection and a simplified impact assessment procedure.

Keywords

Citation

Curran, M.A. (2001), "Developing a tool for environmentally preferable purchasing", Environmental Management and Health, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 244-253. https://doi.org/10.1108/09566160110392308

Publisher

:

MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited

Related articles